Quick One

WORKING AT THE CAR WASH: Academically speaking, the kids worked on history and Japanese today, and Annabelle read some more of Michelle Obama's "Becoming."  Their to do list also included non-academic activities, like washing the car. I heard just a little bossiness and bickering from my view on high (out my bedroom window, while on a multi-hour Skype call as part of my newish job). But for the most part they worked well together, and for the most part, the car was clean.

DEBUT: Today, our "ice" plant produced its first flowers of the year. They are absolutely electric. This photo isn't filtered or altered at all. The flowers are neon pink. The hardy plant "(Delosperma) is a succulent, perennial ground cover with daisy-like flowers," per gardeningknowhow.com. 

The plant isn't hardy against the cold. It gets its ice name because of the way the flowers shimmer in the sunlight.I absolutely love them. 

Another superstar in our garden is the rhubarb. This will be our third summer here, and this year, the plant is even bigger than its usual gigantic self. Look at this leaf as compared to Annabelle's hand. We pulled off four stalks for a friend. They were the size of Annabelle's forearm.